SA Naval Heritage Day-by-Day. 6 September: 1939 South Africa declares war on Germany. At this time the total permanent strength of the SA Naval Service is 2 officers (Lt Cdr J. Dalgleish and Lt F.J. Dean) and three ratings (PO Tel H.S. Cresswell, PO J.C.M Germishuys and L. Stoker W.J.C Magson). The Swartburg and Oostewal were in commission as minesweepers. Shortly thereafter they were joined by the Bluff, Disa and Richard Bennet. By the end of the year another 12 'Little Ships' had joined them. (Photo) 1971 Lt M.A. Rennie hands command of SAS Fleur to Lt R. Harm. 1980 The C Navy, V Adm R.A. Edwards, officially opened the Naval Cadet Base TS Lanherne in Port Elizabeth. 1990 The Naval Logistic Base, Simon’s Town, is established to replace the Logistic Support Group. 1991 The Alexander Sledzuk, to be purchased by the SAN in 1993 and named SAS Outeniqua, is launched at the Kherson Shipyard in the Ukraine. 2010 Exercise IBSAMAR II, the biggest combined exercise held in South African waters in 2010, was conducted off the South Coast from 6 to 27 September 2010. This was the second of a series of biannual maritime exercises held between the navies of three major developing nations of Brazil, India and South Africa. The first was also held in SA waters in 2008. 2018 Exercise ATLASUR XI commences in Simon`s Town with navies from Brazil and Uruguay participating. The vessels participating were ROU General Artigas, BNS Barroso, SAS Amatola, SAS Protea and SAS 'Manthatisi. They slipped and sailed on 06 September 2018 to conduct sea integration exercises in the False Bay area as part of the first phase of the exercise. PHOTO. Before the war Hydrographic Survey Section Lt F.J. Dean Lt Cdr J. Dalgleish PO J. Germishuys at Afrikander